April 13
Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
7:45 AM – Deceased Members of Cathedral Candle Co.
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Acts 4:32-37
The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the Apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.
Thus Joseph, also named by the Apostles Barnabas (which is translated son of encouragement”), a Levite, a Cypriot by birth, sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the Apostles.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5
R. (1a) The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed:
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
Gospel Acclamation
John 3:14-15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man must be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him
may have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 3:7b-15
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
“The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.”
Reflection
As Church, we are firm believers in the actions of the Holy Spirit. We know the Spirit is alive and active in the Church community and in its faithful. This being the case, why do we often doubt our ability to make positive contributions to the lives of those people we encounter?
The reading from Acts of the Apostles hears Luke describe how the early community of believers shared everything in common. This means sharing more than faith. They shared what they needed to survive and to thrive as followers of Christ. This understanding of watching out for the needs and cares of the other grew out of the love that Christ demonstrated to them. The question begs asking, where have we gone wrong as a society?
Many would say we have become a society of “me first” people. When I say this, I mean believers and non-believers alike. Certainly there are those among us and many at Holy Cross Parish that do put the needs of others before their own needs, but we must admit, as a society, we leave many people behind.
How can we use the example of the Risen Christ this Easter season to make sure we consider the needs of those around us and as a community try to meet those needs to the best of our ability? When I say needs, I mean both physical and spiritual needs. After all, Christ was everything to those he met and is everything to us!
Peace,
Fr. John Kurgan
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